Battery terminal connector



Sept. 8, 1959 ADE 2,903,672

BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed March 6, 1956 IN VEN TOR. MATH/As A DE ATTORNEY United States Patent Q BATTERY TERMINAL (:ONNECTOR Mathias Ade, Bronx, NIY.

Application March 6, 1956, Serial No. 569,850

1 Claim. (Cl. 339-232) This invention relates to devices for use in securing electric conductors, such as wires, cables or the like, to the terminal post of a battery. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of this type and kind, wherein the conductor can be quickly and easily attached and detached wtih respect to the battery terminal in the making of repairs, alterations, chargings or the like.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a connector employing means for keying the terminal end of a conductor with the connector to prevent relative movement between the parts in the operation of attaching and detaching the conductor.

Still further, my invention deals with a connector assemblage, wherein parts directly engaging the terminal of the battery can be retained against displacement therefrom in the operation of coupling and uncoupling an electric conductor.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing part of a battery with a terminal thereon and illustrating one of my improved connectors in section arranged upon the terminal, with part of the construction shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detached side detail view of one part of the connector.

To illustrate one adaptation and use of my invention, I have indicated, at 10, part of the upper portion of a battery, such as commonly used in conjunction with automotive and similar apparatus and at 11 is shown one of the positive and/or negative terminal posts of the hattery, upon which my improved connector unit 12 1s adapted to be arranged.

The unit 12 comprises a conical gripper sleeve 13, having a depending skirt 14, the skirt being slit at circumferentially spaced intervals, as seen at 15, to divide the skirt into a plurality of gripper members 16.

At the upper end of the skirt is a solid head 17, in which is embedded and key anchored the square head 18 of a bolt 19.

The gripper sleeve 13 is preferably composed of a moulded body of electric conductive material, the body 13 including, to a large degree, lead but having reasonable rigidity. Moulding such as babbitt materials can be used.

The bolt 19 has, adjacent the head 18, an angular key portion 20 which, in the construction shown, is of hexagon cross-sectional form, the key portion extending above the head 18 sufiiciently to establish key engagement with a pressure collar 21, as at 22, as well as with the terminal end member 23 of a circuit wire or cable 24, the latter being indicated by the hexagon aperture 25.

The member 23 comprises a flattened end 26, in which the hexagon aperture 25 is arranged, as clearly noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and, beyond the end 26, the member is expanded into a split tube 27, the split being indicated at 28 in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This tube is adapted to receive the wire, cable or conductor and the same may be forcibly clamped in the tube 27 and, in some instances, the addition of soldering can be employed.

The collar '21 is also conical in form to fit snugly over the gripper sleeve 13 with the upper head end 29 of the collar at all times spaced from the upper head end 17 of the sleeve 13.

In the use of the device, the gripper sleeve is first forced downwardly over the tapered terminal or post 11 and fitted snugly thereon, after which, the collar 21 is arranged upon the sleeve. The end 26 of the member 23 is then passed over the bolt onto the head end 29 of the collar, whereupon, the clamping nut 30 is mounted on the threaded end of the bolt and, in the operation of tightening the nut, the collar 21 is moved downwardly to firmly move the grippers 16 into positive gripping engagement with the post 11. In this operation, the collar 21, as well as the member 23, are keyed against rotation on the bolt by virtue of the fitting of the apertures 22 and 25 upon the hexagon key 20.

Whenever it is desired to remove the member 23, all

that is necessary is to remove the nut 30; whereupon, the member 23 can be detached. In this operation, the gripping engagement of the sleeve 13 with the post 11 need not be disturbed. In other words, the parts 13, 19 and 21 can be retained on the post 11 of the battery while the battery is being re-charged or repaired.

It will also be apparent that, by raising the collar 21, the sleeve 13 can be forcibly removed from the tapered post 11 and, then, reassembled therewith, in the manner previously described.

Devices of the type and kind under consideration, Will eliminate the many impractical, inconvenient and undesirable features of conventional battery couplings of the type and kind now in general use.

The collar 21 and member 23 are both preferably composed of brass or copper to establish a good electrical connection.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A connector unit of the character described, comprising a gripper sleeve, said sleeve comprising a split skirt and a solid head, a pressure collar arranged upon said sleeve and having a head end, a bolt including an angular head embedded within and fixedly keyed to said solid head and projecting axially therefrom, said collar being arranged upon the bolt and having a circumferentially continuous one-thickness Wall, an electric conductor terminal end member apertured to receive the protruding end of the bolt and adapted to be arranged upon the upper head end of said collar, a nut mounted on the bolt adapted to apply pressure to said member and collar in forcing the gripper sleeve into operative engagement with the terminal post of a battery in establishing positive electrical engagement therewith, said bolt including, beyond the upper solid head of said sleeve, an axially extending key portion, and said collar and member engaging the key portion to prevent rotation of the collar and member on said bolt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,176,942 Bliss Mar. 28, 1916 2,551,895 Noir May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,549/34 Australia May 14, 1934 

